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Stress Corrosion Cracking Susceptibility of Additively Manufactured Aluminum Alloy 7050 Produced by Selective Laser Melting in Chloride Environments

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Abstract

Additively manufactured, high-strength aluminum alloy 7050 (Al-Zn-Mg-Cu) produced by selective laser melting (SLM) was evaluated for stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility in chloride-containing environments relative to 7050-T7451 wrought plate. Constant extension rate tests and constant strain tests were conducted in 3.5% sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions. Test coupons were characterized for evidence of SCC following the test. The effects of chloride concentration and the presence of an oxidizer, i.e., hydrogen peroxide, on SCC and corrosion susceptibility were also studied. Results of the experiments implied that the 7xxx-series SLM alloy generally showed similar susceptibility to the 7050-T7451 plate with limited SCC initiation in the chloride environments. The presence of hydrogen peroxide changed the corrosion mode to intergranular corrosion and pitting.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support provided by Northrop Grumman Independent Research and Development (IRAD) funding. We are thankful to Mr. Jamshad Mahmood for his help with the experiments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, 7323 Aviation Blvd, Baltimore, MD, 21240, USA

    Kevin R. Chasse

  2. Georgia Institute of Technology, North Ave. NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA

    Rupesh Rajendran & Preet M. Singh

  3. Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, 1 Hornet Way, El Segundo, CA, 90245, USA

    Crosby T. Owens

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  1. Kevin R. Chasse
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Correspondence to Kevin R. Chasse.

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This invited article is part of a special topical focus in the Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance on Additive Manufacturing. The issue was organized by Dr. William Frazier, Pilgrim Consulting, LLC; Mr. Rick Russell, NASA; Dr. Yan Lu, NIST; Dr. Brandon D. Ribic, America Makes; and Caroline Vail, NSWC Carderock.

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Chasse, K.R., Rajendran, R., Owens, C.T. et al. Stress Corrosion Cracking Susceptibility of Additively Manufactured Aluminum Alloy 7050 Produced by Selective Laser Melting in Chloride Environments. J. of Materi Eng and Perform 30, 7046–7056 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-06135-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11665-021-06135-y

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